Ethiopian Airlines jet crashes off Lebanon coast, no survivors

An Ethiopian Airlines plane with 90 people onboard has crashed into the Mediterranean, shortly after taking-off from Beirut, Lebanon, in stormy weather.

At least 34 bodies have been recovered, and a search for survivors is underway.

Eighty-three passengers and seven crewmembers were on board the Boeing 737-800, Lebanese Transport Minister Ghazi al-Aridi told the news conference at the airport.

“[The crash site] has been identified as 3.5 kilometres west of the village of Na'ameh,” he was quoted by Reuters as saying.

The minister identified the passengers as 54 Lebanese, 22 Ethiopians, one Iraqi, one Syrian, one Canadian of Lebanese origin, one Russian of Lebanese origin, a French woman and two British of Lebanese origin.